The influence of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury on remote organs: The histological brain changes in male and female rats

INTRODUCTION: Brain tissue was adversely affected by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (renal IRI) in several studies. Moreover, we are awareness that kidney diseases are gender dependent, but there is not enough evidence of the impact of gender on renal IRI-induced brain injury. Hence, this study was designed to investigate gender differences in renal IRI-induced brain tissue injury in adult rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Wistar rats (four groups) include two main groups (20 male and 20 female). Each of them was divided into two subgroups including 1 and 2: male and female sham-operated groups and 3and 4: male and female ischemia (ISC) groups were exposed to renal ischemia for 45 min and then 24 h reperfusion (male and female ISC 24 h). Sham groups were exposed to surgery without ischemia process. After reperfusion time, blood samples were obtained for the renal function measurements. The kidney and brain were removed and were fixed in a 10% formalin solution for pathological assessment. The left kidney was used to measure malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite. RESULTS: Renal IRI increased significantly levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, kidney weight, and damage score in both genders (P < 0.05). Furthermore, brain injuries were significantly higher following 24 h of reperfusion in male and female groups. Serum nitrite level and MDA concentration of female rats decreased significantly in ISC 24 h group (P < 0.05) but not in male rats. CONCLUSION: The brain tissue of both genders, male and female, is affected by renal IRI as a remote organ. Female sex hormones may indicate a protective role against IR by the nitric oxide pathway and antioxidant signaling.